marco rubio, rand paul, johnson and ted cruz. >> i've played a role in stocking the senate with solid conservatives who are younger and brighter and better spokesmen than i am. and so i know i'm leaving the senate better than i found it. >> reporter: but demint also infuriated republican leaders by backing several gop primary candidates who could not win their senate seats. remember christine o'donnell? cnn is told senate republican leader mitch mcconnell was annoyed for backing o'donnell and a couple other losing candidates in 2010 and cost republicans the majority. at the time demint told us he was unapologetic and still is. you're trying to send a message to the gop establishment. >> the gop establishment is out. and what we're going to do is help the american people take back their government. >> reporter: in the flood of gop reaction to demint's surprise retirement, he didn't have to read between the lines much in the gop leader's three-sentence statement to see some hard feelingsthanking demint for his service and another who called demint a friend. >> i've always liked the guy.